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RIYADH: ������Ƶ’s anti-corruption authority has arrested government employees taking bribes in exchange for awarding contracts, overlooking violations and issuing licenses, among other offenses, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday evening.  

An employee working at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources was arrested for receiving SR1.6 million ($433,285) in exchange for unlawfully issuing a quarry license for a company owned by a resident foreign investor, who was also arrested.

A Saudi citizen was arrested for receiving SR85,000 in exchange for canceling a demolition order issued against a plot of agricultural land that had no ownership deed.

Two more employees working at the municipality of the same region were also detained for receiving sums of money in exchange for halting demolition orders.

Another employee working at a local municipality, which was not identified, was arrested for receiving SR195,000 in exchange for unlawfully awarding a tender to an unnamed commercial entity.

In another case, the director of a desalination plant was suspended for receiving SR35,000 from a commercial entity contracted with the plant in exchange for not recording violations committed by that entity.

A municipality employee received a sum of SR30,000 out of an agreed total of SR240,000 in exchange for facilitating the unlawful disbursement of SR8,303,000 in financial dues to a commercial entity, for which they were arrested.

A non-commissioned officer working at the General Directorate of Civil Defense received SR10,430 in exchange for unlawfully issuing a permit to a commercial establishment, and was suspended.

An employee working at a government hospital was suspended for embezzling SR12,000 belonging to a catering company contracted to provide meals for the hospital.

One non-commissioned officer working at the Ministry of Defense was suspended for receiving sums of money from female citizens in exchange for promising to employ them at the ministry.

An employee at one of the Kingdom’s regional emirates was suspended after receiving a sum of money in exchange for facilitating the procedures of a marriage transaction for a resident.

Nazaha also announced the arrest of an employee working at a regional enforcement court for receiving a sum of money in exchange for removing a citizen’s name from the service suspension list.

An employee of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority was suspended for misappropriating several items that had been confiscated by customs at his work location.

A municipality employee was arrested for accepting airline tickets for himself and his family from a resident working for a company contracted with the municipality (who was also arrested), in return for expediting payment processes.

A municipality market inspector was suspended for conducting inspections at a commercial establishment and illegally taking SR7,500 along with various tobacco products without any legal authority to do so.

A Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development employee was suspended for receiving payment from a business in exchange for not issuing a regulatory violation against it.

A resident working at a health complex affiliated with the Ministry of Health was arrested for receiving payment for promising to issue a health care practice license without the test being taken.

A Ministry of Hajj and Umrah employee was arrested for accepting payment to refrain from canceling a hotel’s operating permit.

Nazaha also arrested a Saudi Electricity Company employee for receiving payment to illegally connect electrical service to a site.

The authority’s spokesperson emphasized its commitment to detecting and apprehending anyone who misappropriates public funds or abuses their position for personal benefit or to harm the public interest.

Such individuals will be held accountable even after their employment has ended, as financial and administrative corruption offenses have no statute of limitations.

LONDON: The health “catastrophe” in Gaza will last for “generations to come,” the World Health Organization’s chief has told the BBC Radio 4 “Today” program.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for a substantial surge in aid to the enclave in order to meet the needs of Palestinians.

Despite Israel allowing more medical aid and other supplies following the ceasefire with Hamas on Oct. 10, levels remain lower than needed to rebuild Gaza’s health system, he said.

The US, which brokered the ceasefire, has said the first phase of the plan should see the unlimited distribution of supplies “without interference.”

Yet the increase in aid has been smaller than anticipated, Ghebreyesus said, adding that Palestinians in Gaza have experienced famine, “overwhelming” injuries, the collapse of their healthcare system and disease outbreaks compounded by the destruction of sanitation infrastructure.

“On top of that, (there is) restricted access to humanitarian aid. This is a very fatal combination, so that makes (the situation) catastrophic and beyond words,” he said.

“If you take the famine and combine it with a mental health problem which we see is rampant, then the situation is a crisis for generations to come.”

Ghebreyesus called on Israel to “de-link” the supply of aid from the wider conflict, after it temporarily halted humanitarian deliveries following the killing of two soldiers on Sunday.

The Israel Defense Forces claimed that its personnel were killed in an ambush by Hamas, but the Palestinian group said it was unaware of the clashes. Substantial international pressure led to Israel reinstating aid deliveries the following day.

“There should be full access (for aid), there should not be any condition, especially after all the living hostages were released, and a good part of the remains are transferred. I did not expect there would be additional restrictions,” said Ghebreyesus, adding that “since the US has brokered the peace deal it has the responsibility of making sure that all sides are respecting” it.

Israel must also allow in aid groups that were previously denied entry to Gaza, he said, condemning the blocking of certain health supplies into the enclave after it claimed that they could have dual-use capabilities.

“If you are going to build a field hospital, you need the canvas and the pillars (for tents). So, if the pillars are removed, because of an excuse that they could be dual-use, then you can’t have a tent,” he said.

Ghebreyesus called for a ramping up of medical flights from Gaza, after 700 people died while waiting to be evacuated.

The UN’s official estimate of the cost to reconstruct Gaza after two years of war stands at $70 billion.

About 10 percent of that must be spent on rehabilitating the enclave’s damaged health system, Ghebreyesus said.

“We have been saying for a long time that peace is the best medicine. The ceasefire we have is a very fragile one and some people have died even after the ceasefire because it was broken a couple of times,” he added.

“What is very sad is many people were cheering in the streets because they were very happy there was a peace deal. Imagine, (some of) those same people are dead after they were told the war is over.”